Pink Mink

Remove bottom leaves if present, recut stems under water and place into a fresh flower food solution.

Leaf blackening due in part to low light therefore low carbohydrate, keep in well-lit situation. The sugar in flower food solutions can sometimes prevent leaf blackening. However, it seems that glucose works better than sucrose, which may explain why some flower foods work better than others in preventing leaf blackening.

Harvest Instructions: Flowers harvested in the afternoon generally exhibit less leaf blackening that those harvested in the morning. Immediate precooling of flowers works well but only if the cold chain is maintained until retail and/or consumer level.

Named after Proteus, a Greek sea god with the power of prophecy. The specific epithet name neriifolia refers to the likeness of the leaves to those of oleander (Nerium).

Spectacular focal points in contemporary arrangements, the durable Protea will often bloom for several months.

Suitable for drying. Leaves can turn black due to low light and especially due to lack of carbohydrate. Therefore, make sure a fresh flower food containing sugar is used.

Recent Findings: Dai and Paull (1997) noted that Protea neriifolia exhibited much more leaf blackening than Leucospermum spp. 'Rachel' due to an unknown inhibitor to this process, also possibly mediated by pH differences.